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ADOT to close dozens of offices, rest areas
The state’s transportation department said it plans to shut down a dozen Motor Vehicle Division offices, temporarily close rest areas and defer hundreds of millions of dollars in construction as... […]
Budget Web site to cost fraction of $100M estimate
It looks like Arizona won’t have to spend $100 million to put state budget information online. In fact, not even close. The cost of the Financial Transparency Web site scheduled to be launched in 2011 is estimated to cost $740,000, according to a Sept. 1 report by the General Accounting Office.
Lawmakers from both parties criticize Brewer’s budget action
The governor’s actions on the state budget drew jeers from both Republicans and Democrats, but for wildly different reasons. House Speaker Kirk Adams and Senate President Bob Burns, both Republicans, said Gov. Jan Brewer increased state spending by more than $350 million with her line-item-vetoes of cuts to K-12 education and the Department of Economic Security, which provides benefits for Arizo[...]
Brewer vetoes part of budget, blames ‘extremists’ from both parties
Blaming “extremists” from both parties for holding up the budget process and threatening the state with bankruptcy, Gov. Jan Brewer on Sept. 4 signed large swaths of the budget that she said will help the state “weather the storm” until the next legislative session. But she vetoed parts of the main spending bill, including $300 million in cuts to K-12 schools and DES. She also vetoed the b[...]
Garcia: Budget talks ‘still alive’
Bipartisan budget talks took place Sept. 1 - but only between Senate leaders and the governor.
Democratic leader: Five-party talks fall apart
Last-ditch budget negotiations between Republicans and Democrats appear to have fallen apart, which makes it unlikely Gov. Jan Brewer will see her sales-tax-increase proposal on a ballot any time soon.
Lawmakers adjourn sine die; questions loom
The Arizona Legislature ended its special legislative session at 1:42 p.m. Aug. 25, although it may be a short-lived break from the Capitol. "Well, I'll see you next week," Rep. Warde Nichols, a Gilbert Republican, said as he prepared to leave the House of Representatives.
From the cheap seats
Lobbyists and other interested observers are all speculating on what Gov. Jan Brewer might do. One onlooker, who asked not to be identified, said the Governor's Office, in particular, is keeping mum: "Even the [staffers] who will say, ‘Hello,' to you are choosing not to say anything.
Brewer will get budget, sans sales tax referral
The fate of two-months-overdue budget aimed at solving a $3.2 billion deficit now rests in the hands of Gov. Jan Brewer, as lawmakers delivered the plan to her eight weeks into a special legislative session called specifically to address the financial problems.
House, Senate adjourn; Budget vote stalls again
***UPDATED AT 4:15 P.M.*** Senators seemed poised to bring the budget bills to the floor on Aug. 11, but instead adjourned for the day after meeting for less than a half-hour.
Brewer giving speeches by proxy while budget work continues
For the third straight week, Gov. Jan Brewer cleared her public schedule so she could stay close to the office while budget negotiations go into the home stretch. But her scheduled speeches are still being made - they're just being made by other people.
Splitting budget bill jeopardizes support in House
While splitting the tax referendums may help the budget agreement gain enough support to climb out of the Senate, the maneuver might alienate enough House members to kill the fledgling deal.
